Helena

Call you me fair? That ‘fair’ again unsay.

Demetrius loves your fair – O happy fair!

Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue’s sweet air More tuneable than lark to shepherd’s ear, When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.

Sickness is catching. O, were favour so, Your words I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; 190

My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet melody.

Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, The rest I’d give to be to you translated.

O, teach me how you look, and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius’ heart.

30

HERMIA

I frown upon him; yet he loves me stil .

ãoere v

HELENA

O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!

oite d

a n

HERMIA

e um

I give him curses; yet he gives me love.

o d

HELENA

Sonh

O that my prayers could such affection move!

200

HERMIA

The more I hate, the more he follows me.

HELENA

The more I love , the more he hateth me.

HERMIA

His fol y, Helena, is no fault of mine.

HELENA

None but your beauty; would that fault were mine!

HELENA